System and method for tracking an object in a video and linking information thereto

ABSTRACT

An image processing system for use in development and playback of interactive video. In a development mode of operation, pixel or video objects are selected in a frame by way of a developmental graphical user interface. The system automatically tracks the selected pixel objects in the preceding and succeeding video frames by determining range limits for various color variables of the selected pixel object to compensate for the effects in lighting changes and decompression effects. The system automatically locates pixel objects within the calculated range limits in the preceding and succeeding video frames and generates a pixel object file which identifies the coordinates of the selected pixel object in each frame. The pixel object file is linked to a data object file which links the selected pixel objects to data objects. The pixel object file and data object file, collectively “linked video files,” are created during a development mode of operation. During a playback mode of operation, the linked video files are imported to a video hosting platform which includes a video playback application and a common media player application programming interface (API) for playback of the video content. The video playback application supports processing of the linked video files to enable pixel objects to be selected by a pointing device and linked to data objects by way of a client side graphical user interface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an interactive video system and more particularly to a system and method for creating and playback of interactive video. In a development mode of operation, the system automatically tracks a pixel object in a video sequence that has been selected in a video frame and generates one or more linked video files representative of the location of the selected object in all of the frames in the sequence, along with links to data objects for use in conjunction with an interactive video system. In a playback mode of operation, the system enables the pixel objects to be selected during subsequent playback of the video frames with a pointing device, such as a mouse, providing access to linked data objects.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] There is a trend toward interactive video for various commercial, educational and entertainment purposes. To provide such interactivity, video content producers need to link various desired video or pixel objects within each of the video frames of the video content with data objects, such as web pages. In order to provide links for selected pixel objects in the various video frames, video content producers are known to implement image processing techniques for linking selected pixel objects in each of the various video frames to other platforms. Both manual and automatic image processing techniques are known.

[0005] Examples of systems in which the links are manually “authored” are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,774,666; 6,076,104 and 5,929,849. In general, manual image processing techniques involve editing each video frame in a video sequence and manually embedding links or hot spots in each of the frames for the desired pixel objects. Such a task is extremely labor intensive and thus expensive to implement. For example, a 30-minute television show is known to include 22 minutes of video content and 8 minutes of advertising inserts. At a playback rate of 30 frames per second, the 22 minutes of video content is comprised of (30 frames/second ×60 seconds/minute ×22 minutes) 39,600 frames. In order to provide the ability for interactivity, a video content producer thus would need to edit 39,600 frames for a 22-minute broadcast and embed links in each of the frames for one or more various objects. As mentioned above, such a task is extremely labor intensive and thus relatively expensive.

[0006] In order to improve image processing of video content for the purpose of providing interactivity by providing links to various objects within the video frames, automatic image processing systems have been developed that are able to automatically track an object in a video frame sequence and link the pixel objects to other platforms. Examples of such automatic authoring systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,205,231; 6,169,573 and 5,867,584.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,169,573 relates to a system for tracking objects in a sequence of video frames which track objects in a compressed format using variables encoded in MPEG compressed video content. Unfortunately, the system disclosed in the '573 patent is only useful for tracking objects in MPEG format and is not suitable for use with video content in an uncompressed format or other video format, such as mov.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,231 discloses an image processing system that is able to automatically track an object in a video frame sequence. The system disclosed in the '231 patent incorporates known image processing techniques for tracking an edge of an object based on its color or luminosity characteristics. The system disclosed in the '231 patent “tags” selected objects in the video frame sequence which enables the tags and thus the selected object to be linked to other platforms, such as websites.

[0009] There are various problems with the system such as disclosed in '205 patent, such as inaccurate tracking of the pixel object. In particular, image processing systems, such as disclosed in the '231 patent locate pixel objects within a video frame by locating pixels having a certain color variable value. Unfortunately, the color variable values for an object may change from scene to scene due to lighting effects or due to the effects of the decompression. The system disclosed in the '205 patent does not compensate for such changes and thus is not able to accurately track pixel objects in a video frame sequence. In addition, embedding tags in the original video content is resource intensive requiring relatively high level computing platforms.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,584 also relates to an image processing system for automatically tracking objects in a video frame sequence. This system attempts to anticipate the position of the selected object in succeeding frames by generating a number of virtual wire frames along a predetermined anticipatory trajectory of the pixel object in succeeding frames and comparing the pixel variables within the test windows of the anticipatory trajectory with the original test window. As such, the system disclosed in the '584 patent is resource intensive. In addition, the system utilizes known image processing techniques based on the intensity characteristic of the pixels within the windows. As such, the system disclosed in the '584 patent does not take into account changes in brightness and shifts in the hue due to lighting effects in the video frame and thus is unable to accurately track an object in a sequence of video frames. Thus, there is a need for image processing system for automatically tracking a selected object in a video frame sequence that is able to relatively accurately track the object and is not resource intensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention relates to an image processing system for use in development and playback of interactive video. In a development mode of operation, pixel or video objects are selected in a frame by way of a developmental graphical user interface. The system automatically tracks the selected pixel objects in the preceding and succeeding video frames by determining range limits for various color variables of the selected pixel object to compensate for the effects in lighting changes and decompression effects. The system automatically locates pixel objects within the calculated range limits in the preceding and succeeding video frames and generates a pixel object file which identifies the coordinates of the selected pixel object in each frame. The pixel object file is linked to a data object file which links the selected pixel objects to data objects. The pixel object file and data object file, collectively “linked video files,” are created during a development mode of operation. During a playback mode of operation, the linked video files are imported to a video hosting platform which includes a video playback application and a common media player application programming interface (API) for playback of the video content. The video playback application supports processing of the linked video files to enable pixel objects to be selected by a pointing device and linked to data objects by way of a client side graphical user interface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] These and other advantages of the present invention will be readily understood with reference to the following specification and attached drawing wherein:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an interactive video system in accordance with the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a screen shot of a developmental graphical user interface for use in a development mode in the interactive video system in accordance with the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a screen shot of a client side graphical user interface for use in a playback mode of the interactive video system in accordance with the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 4 is a system level software diagram of an image processing portion of the invention.

[0017]FIG. 5 is a software flow diagram of a frame extraction application in accordance with the present invention.

[0018]FIGS. 6A and 6B are flow diagrams of the pixel object capture portion of the image processing system in accordance with the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of the automatic tracking portion of the imaging processing system in accordance with the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 8 illustrates the automatic tracking of an exemplary red frame against a blue background for two successive frames.

[0021]FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing how to associate the color of an object with an event according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing how to define the color characteristics of an object according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing how to define the color characteristics of an object according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0024]FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing how to define the color characteristics of an object according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0025]FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing how to associate the color of an object with an event using a table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 14 is a computer execution environment where one or more embodiments of the present invention may be implemented.

[0027]FIG. 15 shows an embodiment of the present invention where the frame buffer is utilized.

[0028]FIG. 16 shows an embodiment of the present invention where color ranges are utilized.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] The present invention relates to a system and method for providing interactivity to various types of video content, such as streaming video content and on-demand video content, for example, from a DVD player. In a development mode of operation, the present invention includes an image processing system for automatically tracking a pixel object, selected in a frame of a video frame sequence, in preceding and succeeding video frames for the purpose of linking the selected object to one or more data objects, such as a uniform resource locator, fixed overlay information, a streaming video link, database interaction link or other resource platform (hereinafter “data object”). In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the image processing system compensates for changes in brightness and shifts in hue on a frame by frame basis due to lighting effects and decompression effects by determining range limits for various color variable values, such as hue (H), red-green (R-G), green-blue (G-B) and saturation value2 (SV²) to provide relatively accurate tracking of a pixel object. Moreover, unlike some known image processing systems, the image processing system that forms part of the present invention does not embed tags in the video content. Rather the system, in accordance with the present invention, generates linked video files, which identify the pixel coordinates of the selected pixel object in each video frame as well as data object links associated with each pixel object. The linked video files are exported to a playback platform which includes a video playback application which supports playback of content of various compression schemes such as those used by various commonly known media players, such as Real Player, Windows Media Player and Quick Time and enables pixel objects to be selected during playback with a pointing device, such as a mouse which enables access to linked to data objects. The video playback application may be hosted in a video hosting platform or reside directly within a playback platform.

[0030] Graphical user interfaces (GUI) may be provided to facilitate the development of linked video files during a development mode of operation as well as facilitate playback during a playback mode of operation. In particular, a developmental GUI, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, may be used to facilitate processing of the original video content by either a video content provider or an application service provider, to develop the linked video files as discussed above. A client side or playback GUI, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, may be provided to facilitate playback.

[0031] Various embodiments of the invention are contemplated. For example, referring to FIG. 1, the invention may be implemented by way of a resource platform, shown within the dashed box 20, formed from one or more servers or work stations, which may constitute an Application Service Provider or may be part of the video content producer. In this implementation, a source of video content 22, for example, an on-demand source from, for example, a DVD player or streaming video source from a video content producer, is transferred to the resource platform 20, which, in turn, processes the video content 22 and links selected pixel objects within the video content 22 to data objects and generates linked video files 24.

[0032] The resource platform 20 is used to support a development mode of operation in which the linked video files 24 are created from the original video content 22. As shown in FIG. 1, the resource platform 20 may include an exemplary resource computing platform 26 and a video processing support computing platform 28. The resource computing platform 26 includes a pixel object capture application 30, a video linking application 32 and generates the linked video files 24 as discussed above. The pixel object capture application 30 is used to capture a pixel object selected in a frame of video content 22. The video linking application 32 automatically tracks the selected pixel object in preceding and successive frames in the video sequence and links the pixel objects to data objects by way of a pixel object file and data object file, collectively referred to as linked video files 24.

[0033] The resource computing platform 22 may be configured as a work station with dual 1.5 GHz processors, 512 megabits of DRAM, a 60 gigabit hard drive, a DVD-RAM drive, a display, for example, a 21-inch display; a 100 megabit Ethernet card, a hardware device for encoding video and various standard input devices, such as a tablet, mouse and keyboard. The resource computing platform 26 is, preferably provided with third party software to the hardware.

[0034] The video processing support computing platform 28 includes a show information database 34 and a product placement database 36. The show information database 34 includes identifying information relative to the video content, such as show name, episode number and the like. The product placement database 36 includes data relative to the various data objects, such as website addresses, to be linked to the selected pixel objects. The show information database 34 as well as the product placement database 36 may be hosted on the video processing support computing platform 28 or may be part of the resource computing platform 26.

[0035] In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the linked video files 24 are created separately from the original video content 22 and are amenable to being exported to a video hosting platform 38 for use during a playback mode of operation. The video hosting platform 38 includes a common media player application programming interface (API) 40 and a playback application 42 for enabling playback of either streaming or on-demand video content with interactivity. In particular, the video playback application 42 enables pixel objects to be selected during playback of the video content by a standard input device, such as a mouse, and linked to data objects, for example, other resource platforms.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, the video hosting platform 38 is shown separate from the playback platform 43, which may be a personal computing platform or even a set top box. Alternatively, the video hosting platform 38 may be included within the playback platform 43. The video hosting platform 38 may be, for example, a personal computing platform.

Development Mode of Operation

[0037] The development mode of operation is discussed with reference to FIGS. 4-8. Turning to FIG. 4, a video source, such as, a streaming video source, for example, from the Internet or an on-demand video source, such as a DVD player, is imported by the pixel object capture application 30 (FIG. 1) which captures, for example, 12 frames per second of the video content 20 and converts it to a bit map file 44. In particular, the video content 22, for example, in MPEG format, is decompressed using public domain decoder software, available from the MPEG website (www.mpeg.org) developed by the MPEG software simulation group, for example, MPEG 2 DEC, an executable MPEG 2 decoder application. As is known in the art, such MPEG decoder software decodes an entire MPEG file before providing global information on the file itself. Since the video content must be identified by frame for use by the pixel object capture application 30 and the video linking application 32, the frame information may be read from the decoded MPEG file once all of the frames have been decoded or alternatively determined by a frame extraction application which stores the frame information in a memory buffer as the MPEG file is being loaded into the pixel capture application 30 as illustrated in FIG. 5 and described below.

Frame Extraction Application

[0038] The frame extraction application is illustrated in FIG. 5 and described below. Referring to FIG. 5, the MPEG file is imported into the pixel object capture application 30 in compressed format in step 46. In this embodiment, the pixel object capture application 30 works in conjunction with the standard MPEG decoder software as illustrated in FIG. 5 to avoid waiting until the entire file is decoded before obtaining the frame information. While the MPEG file is being imported, the pixel object capture application 30 reads the header files of the MPEG data in step 48 and stores data relating to the individual frame type and location in a memory buffer in step 50. As such, the pixel object capture system 30 is able to decode selected frames of the compressed MPEG file without the need for decoding all of the previous frames in step 52. Based upon the frame information stored in the memory buffer in step 50, the decoded MPEG files may then be converted to a bit map file 44 (FIG. 4), as discussed above in step 54.

Section Break Application

[0039] The pixel object capture application 30 may optionally be provided with a section break application 55 (FIG. 4) to facilitate downstream processing and aid partitioning of the content among several users. The section break application 55 analyzes the video content during loading. The section break data is stored in a temporary buffer 56 (FIG. 4) and used for pixel object analysis of a selected frame and proceeding and succeeding frames by the pixel object capture application 30 and the video linking application 32.

[0040] The section break application 55 automatically analyzes the video content to determine how changes in lighting affect RGB values creating large shifts in these values. In particular, the median average of the pixel values for a series of frames is computed. The section break application 55 compares the changes in the pixel values with the median average. A section break may be determined to be an approximately 5× change in pixel values from the median average. These section breaks are stored in a buffer 56 as a series of sequential frame numbers representing (start frame, end frame) where each start frame equals the proceeding frame plus one frame until the end of the video. This information may be edited by way of the graphical user interface 60 (FIG. 2), discussed below. If changes are made to the frame numbers corresponding to the section breaks, the new information is sent to the section break memory buffer 56 (FIG. 4) where the original information is replaced.

[0041] As will be discussed in more detail below, the frames in the video content are analyzed for a selected pixel object during a session with the pixel object capture application 30 (FIG. 1). A pixel object may be selected in any frame of a video sequence 57 (FIG. 4). The video linking application 32 processes preceding and subsequent frames 59 by automatically tracking the selected pixel object and generating linked video files 24 for an entire segment as defined by the segment break application, or for a length of frames determined by the operator. The segment may be as small as a single frame or may include all the frames in the content.

Developmental Graphical User Interface

[0042] In order to facilitate development, a developmental graphical user interface 60 may be provided, as illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown, the developmental graphical user interface 60 includes a viewing window 61 for displaying a frame of video content and a number of exemplary data fields to associate information with the video content.

[0043] An exemplary product placement list display window 62 is used to provide a graphic list of all of the data objects associated with a particular video frame sequence. The product placement list display window 62 is populated by the product placement database 36 (FIG. 1). The list of data objects is propagated anytime the developmental graphical user interface 60 is created or an existing graphical user interface 60 is opened.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 2, available data objects are displayed in the product placement list display window 62 as text and/or icons. In order to facilitate linking of the data objects to various pixel objects within the video frame sequence, the data objects displayed in the product placement display window 62 may be displayed in different colors. For example, one color may be used for data objects which have been linked to pixel objects while a different color may be used for data objects which have not been assigned to pixel objects. Such technology is well within the ordinary skill in the art, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,244, hereby incorporated by reference.

[0045] A “Show Info” data field 64 may also be provided in the developmental graphical user interface 60. The show information data field 64 is populated by the show information database 34 and may include various data associated with the video frame sequence, such as production company name; show name; episode number/name; initial broadcast date; and proposed ratings.

[0046] A “Product Placement Info” data field 65 and an associated display 66 may also be provided. The display area 66 is a reduced size image of the image displayed in the display window 61. The Product Placement Info data field 65 include various information regarding the data objects stored in the product placement database 36 (FIG. 1) for a selected data object. For example, these product placement information data object fields may include the following fields: product name; placement description; action, for example, redirect to another server; address of the alternate server; a product identifier; a locator descriptor as well as a plurality of data fields 70, 71 and 72 which indicate the frame locations of the data objects in the product placement list display 62 that have been linked to pixel objects. In particular, the data field 70 indicates the first frame in the video frame sequence in which the data object, identified in the Product Placement Info data field 65 is been linked to a pixel object. Similarly, the data field 71 identifies the last frame in the video frame sequence in which the data object has been linked to a pixel object. Lastly, the data field 72 identifies the total number of frames in the video frame sequence in which the selected data object has been linked to pixel objects.

[0047] In order to facilitate automatic authoring of the video frame sequence, the developmental graphical user interface 60 may be provided with a number of control buttons 73-80. These control buttons 73-80 are selected by a pointing device, such as a mouse, and are collectively referred to as “Enabling Tools.” A “Set Scope” control button 73, when selected, allows a user to select a pixel object in the display window 61 by way of a point device. An x, y display 92 identifies the x and y coordinates within the display window 61 corresponding to a mouse click by the user in connection with the selection of the pixel object within the display window 61.

[0048] A “Set First Frame” control button 76 allows the first frame of the video frame sequence to be selected by the user. Once the “Set First Frame” button 76 is selected, a number of control buttons 82, 84 and 86 as well as a scroll bar 88 may be used to advance or back up the frame being displayed in the display window 61. A counter display 90 is provided which identifies the selected frame.

[0049] Once the first frame is selected by the user, as discussed above, a “Bound Object” button 75 may be selected. The Bound Object button 75 causes the system to automatically draw a boundary around the selected pixel object based upon image processing edge boundary techniques as discussed below. The boundary may take the shape of a geometric object, such as a square, rectangle or circle as discussed in more detail below in connection with the pixel object capture application 30. After initial object has been captured, the Track Object button 74 may be selected for initiating automatic tracking or authoring of the selected pixel object in both proceeding and succeeding frames. As will be discussed in more detail below, the pixel object locations video frames and are used to create the linked video files 24.

[0050] In order to facilitate development of the linked video file 24, markers may be used under the control of the control buttons 77-80. The markers are used to identify the first frame associated with a marker. For example, a marker display window 94 is provided. The “Insert Marker” button 77 is selected to mark the first frame linked to a specific pixel object. The markers may be displayed in text and include a reduced size version of the marked frame.

[0051] The markers can be changed and deleted. The “Change Marker” button 78 allows a marker to be changed. In particular, by selecting the “Change Marker” button 78, the frame associated with that marker can be changed. This may be done by advancing or backing up the video frame sequence until the desired frame is displayed in the display window 61. The current marker and the marker display window 94 may then be changed to refer to a different frame number by simply selecting the “Change Marker” button 78.

[0052] A “Delete Marker” button 79 allows markers in the marker display window 94 to be deleted. In order to delete a marker, the marker is simply highlighted in the marker display window 94 and the “Delete Marker” button 79 is selected.

[0053] A “Show Marker” button 80 may also be provided. The “Show Marker” button 80 controls the display of markers in the marker display window 94. The “Show Marker” button 80 may be provided with a toggle-type function in which a single click shows the markers in the marker display window 94 and a subsequent click clears the marker display window 94.

[0054] Each of the markers are displayed in a content map display window 96. The content map display window 96 displays a linear representation of the entire content with all markers depicted along with the frame numbers where the markers appear.

Pixel Obiect Capture Application

[0055] The pixel object capture application 30 is initiated after the first frame is selected by the user by way of the development graphical user interface 60. In particular, After the section breaks are determined, the estimated first frame of the content is displayed in a viewing window 61 on the graphical user interface 60. Once this frame is loaded in the viewing window 61, the user may choose to specify another frame to be notated as the first frame. This is done to ensure that any extra frames captured with the content that do not actually belong to the beginning of the content can be skipped. The user may select a specific frame as the first frame as discussed above. The selected video frame is then loaded into the viewing window 61 for frame analysis as discussed below. The process of choosing the first frame is only performed once at the beginning of the program content, it is not necessary to do this at the start of each section.

[0056] When the viewing window 61 is loaded with content, the resource computing platform 26 accesses the show information database 34 and the product placement database 36 (FIG. 1) to populate the various data fields in the developmental graphical user interface 60 (FIG. 2) as discussed above.

[0057] Once a frame has been loaded into the viewing window 61 (FIG. 2) in the developmental graphical user interface 60, pixel objects are selected and captured during a session with the pixel object capture application 30 (FIG. 1). The video linking application 32 automatically tracks the selected pixel objects in the preceding and succeeding frames and generates linked video files 24, which link the selected pixel objects with data objects, stored in the product placement data base 38.

[0058] Selection and capturing of a pixel object is illustrated in connection with FIG. 6. In general, a pixel object is visually located in the viewing window 61 (FIG. 2) during a session with the pixel object capture application 30 by selecting a pixel in a single frame corresponding to the desired pixel object by way of a pointing device coupled to the resource computing platform 26 (FIG. 1) and processed as illustrated in FIG. 6. The selected pixel is captured in step 100. The captured pixel is analyzed in step 102 for either RGB (red, green, blue) values or Hue. In step 104, the system determines whether the hue value is defined. If so, range limits for the hue value are determined in step 106. Alternatively, the RGB color variable value component for the selected pixel may be calculated along with its range limits in step 108. The initial determination of the range limits for the hue or RGB color variables is determined by, for example, ±10 of the Hue or RGB color variable value. After the range limits for either the hue or the RGB color variables have been determined, the system analyzes the pixels in a 10-pixel radius surrounding the selected pixel for pixels with hue/value components falling within the first calculated range limits in step 110. The pixels that fall within these range limits are captured for further analysis. Range values for the pixels captured in step 110 are calculated in step 112. For example, range limits for the color variables: hue (H), red-green (R-G), green-blue (G-B) and the saturation value^(2 (SV) ²) are determined for each of the variables. The range limits are determined by first determining the mean of the color variable from the sample and then for each variable, calculating the range limits to be, for example, 3× the sigma deviation from the mean to set the high and low range limit for each variable. Once the range limit for the variables are determined, known image processing techniques, for example, edge processing techniques, for example, as disclosed on pages 1355-1357 of Hu et al., “Feature Extraction and Matching as Signal Detection” International Journal of Pattern Recognition and Artificial Intelligence, Vol. 8, No. 6, 1994, pages 1343-1379, hereby incorporated by reference, may be used to determine the boundaries of the color within a frame as indicated in step 114. All of the pixels within the bounding area are captured that fall within the range limits for the variables, hue, R-G, G-V, SV² in step 116. Next, in step 118, a centroid is calculated for the bounding area and the range limits for the color variables are recalculated in step 118. The recalculated range limits determined in step 118 are used for determination of the edges of the bounding area in step 120 to define a finalized bounding area in step 122 for the object. In step 124, the location of the bounding area of the selected object is determined by capturing the (x, y) coordinates for the upper left corner and the lower right corner as well as the coordinates of the centroid of the bounded area. Thus far, selection of an object in a single frame of the video content has been discussed.

Automatic Pixel Oblject Tracking

[0059] Automatic tracking of the selected pixel object is described in connection with FIGS. 7 and 8. In particular, FIG. 7 represents a flow chart for the automatic tracking system while FIG. 8 represents a visual illustration of the operation of the automatic tracking system. Referring first to FIG. 8, an exemplary frame 126 is illustrated, which, for simplicity, illustrates a red object 128 against a blue background. As shown, the pixel object 128 has a centroid at point X₀ along the X₁ axis 130. As shown in frame 2 identified with the reference numeral 129, the example assumes that the pixel object 128 has moved along the x-axis 130 such that its centroid is located at position x1 along the x-axis 130.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 7, the video linking application 36 (FIG. 1) begins automatic tracking by starting at the centroid of the previous frame in step 132. Thus, the video linking application 36 samples a 10-pixel radius 133 relative to the previous frame centroid in step 134 as illustrated in FIG. 8. Using the range limits for the color variables previously determined, the video linking application 36 locates pixels in the sample within the previous color variable range in step 136. As shown in FIG. 8, this relates to the cross-hatched portion 138 in frame 126. In order to compensate for variances in the color variables due to lighting effects and decompression effects, the video linking application 36 next determines a rough color variable range for the pixels within the cross-hatched area 135 in step 140 using the techniques discussed above. After the rough color variable range is calculated, the video linking application 36 samples a larger radius, for example, an 80 pixel radius, based on the previous frame centroid in step 142. As shown in FIG. 8, this example assumes that a substantial portion of the pixel object 128 is within the second sample range. In step 145, the pixels in the new sample which fall within the rough color variable range are located and are indicated by the cross-hatched area 138 in FIG. 8. In order to further compensate for variances in the color variables, the video linking application 36 recalculates the color variable ranges for the located samples in step 146. Once the refined color variable range has been determined, the pixels within the recalculated color variable range are located in step 148. As shown by the double cross-hatched area 139 in FIG. 8, the pixels within the recalculated color variable range are illustrated in FIG. 8. As can be seen from FIG. 8, the pixels falling within the rough color range, in the example, are shown to cover a larger area than the pixel object 128. Once the color range values are recalculated in step 146 in the pixels within the recalculated color variable range are determined in step 148 the pixel object 128 is located and in essence filters out pixels falling outside of the pixel object 128 as shown in FIG. 8. Once the pixels are located with the recalculated color variable range in step 148, a new centroid is determined in step 150. In addition to calculating the centroid, the video linking application 36 also determines the coordinates of the new bounding box, for example, as discussed above in connection with steps 120-124. In step 152, the system stores the coordinates of the centroid in the (x, y) coordinates of the bounding box in memory. The system checks in step 154 to determine if the last frame has been processed. If not, the system loops back to step 132 and processes the next frame by repeating steps 134 to 154. As mentioned above, the frame data is extracted from the video content and utilized to define the frames within a segment. Thus, this process may be repeated for all the frames identified in the first frame found and last frame found fields in the developmental graphical user interface 60. Alternatively, the video linking application can be configured to process more frames than those found within segment. However, by breaking down the processing in terms of segments, tracking of the pixel objects will be relatively more accurate because of the differences in the color variable values expected during segment changes.

Linked Video Files

[0061] In order to further optimize the image processing of the video linking application 32, the resource computing platform 26 may process all or part of the video frames and store the coordinates in step 152 (FIG. 7), Assuming the fastest possible human reaction time to be ⅓ of a second, it follows that an extraction rate of 10 frames per second will provide adequate tracking information Thus, the linked video files 24 store the centroid coordinates of the upper left and lower right coordinates of the selected objects within the ⅓ second intervals known as clusters. At 30 FPS, a cluster is defined as a ten frame segment of video. The file information illustrating object movement contained within the ten frame segment is represented by the co-ordinates used (upper left, and lower right comers) to draw the object bounding boxes. Thus, ten frames of information are compressed into one. The number of frames per cluster depends on the frame rate. Using standard frame rate clusters are defined as follows: Standard (FPS = frames/second) Frames/Cluster NTSC (29.97 FPS) 10 30 FPS 10 PAL (25 FPS) 8, 8, 9/video section 15 FPS  5 12 FPS  4

[0062] Since the linked video files 24 are based on a sample rate of three (3) frames per second, the linked video files 21 will be usable at any playback rate of the original content. Moreover, by limiting the sample rate to three (3) frames per second, the linked video files 21 are suitable for narrowband transmission, for example, with a 56 K bit modem as well as broadband streaming applications, such as ISDN, DSL, cable and T1 applications. Exemplary linked video files 24 are described and illustrated below. Exemplary Linked Video File Line 1: 569 0 2172 30 0 Line 2: 129 0 0 0 0 Line 3: 001 001 010 4 132 002 011 025 4 137 003 026 040 4 142 004 041 055 4 147 005 056 070 4 152 . . . 128 2136 2150 2 564 Line 131: 129 2151 2172 2 567 Line 132: 001 001 010 4 132 6 125 276 199 1 138 75 179 119 2 213 60 246 83 3 207 92 241 117 4 Line 137: 002 011 025 4 137 9 123 278 199 1 133 52 177 119 2 212 56 250 83 3 208 89 243 118 4 Line 142: 003 026 040 4 142 Line 1 Line 1: 569 0 2172 30 0

[0063] The first number in Line 1 (569) identifies the total number of lines in the linked video file 24 file. The next two numbers in Line 1 (0, 2172) are the first and last frame numbers for the movie clip associated with the linked video file 24. The next number in Line 1(30) indicates the playing of the movie clip in frames-per-second. Line 2 Line 2: 129 0 0 0 0

[0064] Line 2 only uses the first space, and the number in this space indicates the total numbers of video frame “clusters” in the video content. Line 3 Line 3: 001 001 010 4 132

[0065] In this example, Lines 3-131 contain information on the one hundred twenty-nine (129) video clusters. Each such line follows a similar format. The first number, 001 in this example, is the cluster number. The next two numbers (001,010) are the starting and ending frames of the video segment. The next number (4) indicates that this video cluster has four clickable areas or objects within it. The final number (132) indicates the line of the linked video file 24 where a detailed description of the video cluster can be found. Line 132 Line 132: 001 001 010 4 132 Line 133: 6 125 276 199 1 138 75 179 119 2 213 60 246 83 3 207 92 241 117 4

[0066] In this example, the detailed descriptions of the video clusters begins on line 132 for video cluster #1. The first line repeats the general video cluster information from prior in the linked video file 24. Each of the following four lines provide information on a separate clickable area. The first four numbers are the (x,y) coordinates for the upper left corner and the lower right corner, respectively. In Line 133, for instance, (6, 125) are the (x,y) coordinates for the upper left corner and (276, 199) are the (x,y) coordinates for the lower right corner of that video cluster. The last number in the line (“1” in Line 133) is the “link index”. The “link index” links the pixel object coordinates with the data object coordinates from the product placement database 36 (FIG. 1).

Playback Mode of Operation

[0067] Playback of the video content and linked video files 24 is by way of a video hosting platform 38 and a playback platform 43. As shown in FIG. 1, the video hosting platform 38 is shown separate from the playback platform 42 and connected thereto by either a narrowband or wideband transmission link. The video hosting platform 38 can alternatively be located in the playback platform 43.

[0068] The video hosting platform 38 includes a video playback application 42 which supports a common media player API 40 for playback of the video content and provides resources for accessing the linked video files 24 to enable pixel objects to be selected with a standard pointing device, such as a mouse, and linked to one or more data objects.

[0069] In particular, the video playback application 42 reads the linked data files 24 and stores these files in two arrays. The first array may be single dimensional and may contain information about the video content and in particular the segments. The second array may be used to provide information regarding the location of the pixel objects of clickable areas for each movie segments. Exemplary code for storing the linked data files into a first array and a second array is provided in an Appendix.

[0070] The video playback application 42 supports pixel objects within the video content 22 being selected with a standard pointing device, such as a mouse. The (x, y) coordinates of the location selected by the pointing device and the frame time that the location was selected are captured and compared with information in the linked video files 24 to determine whether the selected location corresponds to a selected pixel object. In particular, the (x, y) coordinates and frame time information of the pointing device are compared to the pixel object file to determine if the selected location in the display area 155 corresponds to a pixel object. This is determined by determining the elapsed time since the beginning of the video content, and multiplying the elapsed time by the playback rate. For example, for a mouse click at 2.5 seconds into the playback, the approximate frame will be 30 based on a 12 frame per second playback rate. Once the approximate frame is determined, the video playback application 42 determines the section from the section break application 55. Upon determining the section, all clickable areas in the section are scanned to determine the clickable area or pixel object that contains the x, y coordinates associated with the mouse click, if any. If so, the system displays the data object that has been linked to the pixel object by way of the link index in the object file in an inventory display window 156. In particular, a data object, which is linked to the pixel object, is displayed. Exemplary code for returning a link index is provided in the Appendix.

[0071] The video playback application 42 may also be used to support a graphical user interface 153 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The graphical user interface 153 may include a display area 151 for displaying the video content by way of a common media player API.

[0072] The playback application 42 may also provide for additional capability. For example, the graphical user interface 153 may be provided with buttons for categorizing the various data objects that have been linked to the video content. As shown, in FIG. 3, the graphical user interface 153 may include categorical buttons, such as the entertainment, commerce and education buttons 157, 159 and 161 to display the data objects in each of the exemplary categories. These category titles may be customized for each program, and are dynamically written to reflect the content of the program being shown. In this configuration, the data object files are configured with such categorical information. As such, when one of the categorical buttons is selected, all of the selected links in that category are retrieved from the product placement database 36 (FIG. 1) and displayed in the inventory display window 156.

[0073] The “Pause on Click” and “Click and Connect” buttons or check boxes 165 and 167 may be provided. The “Pause on Click” button 165, once selected, pauses the video content in the display area 151 to allow a user time to decide whether to connect to an alternate resource platform at the present time after a selected pixel object has been linked to a data object or retrieve the data object from the inventory display window 156 at a later time. The “Click and Connect” button 167 may be used to display the link data object, for example, a web page in the background on the display area of the playback platform 43 outside of the graphical user interface 153, while the video content continues to display in the display window 151.

[0074] Additional functionality, such as “Show All Links in a Frame” and “Show All Links in Program” buttons 168 and 169 may also be provided. The “Show All Links in Frame” button 168 displays all links in a given frame in the inventory display window 156 when selected. This function allows a user to scroll through the access content, for example, by way of a scroll buttons 171 to locate the scene or frame in which the desired item appears. Once the frame has been located, the user can click within the displayed frame and all of the available items contained within the display frame are sorted and displayed in the inventory display window 155. The “Show All Links” button 169, when selected, displays all of the data object links to the video content. The data objects are displayed in the inventory display window 155.

[0075] A resume video button 172 may be provided. The resume video button 172 is used after selecting an object from the inventory display window 155. In particular, as mentioned above, objects selected from the inventory display window 155 link the application to another resource platform, such as a website. As mentioned above, in a click and connect mode of operation the video content continues to be displayed in the display window 151 in the player while the web page is displayed in the background on the display of the playback platform 42. The resume video button 172 simply allows playback of the video from the point at which the video playback application 42 was linked to another resource platform.

[0076] “Hide/Show List”, “Login”, “Clear List” and “Open Link” buttons 176, 178, 180 and 182 may also be provided. The “Hide/Show List” button 176 may be used to hide or show the functions of the graphical user interface 153. In particular, when the high/show list button 176 is selected, an on/off state is toggled and stored in memory.

[0077] The Login button 178 may be used to prevent or limit access by playback platform 43. The login capability may be used to capture valuable data about the user's habit and requested information. In this application, a web server (not shown) may be used to host a database of user information and password information commonly known in the industry. When the Login button 178 is selected, a request is sent from the playback platform 43 to a login web server for authentication. An authentication message may then return to the video hosting platform 38 to enable playback of the linked video content.

[0078] The Clear List button 180 may be provided to delete all of the data objects in the inventory display window 155. When the Clear List button 180 is selected, the playback. application 38 deletes all of the data objects in a temporary memory used for the inventory display window 155.

[0079] An Open Link button 182 allows for additional information for selected data objects to be accessed. In particular, once a data object is selected from the inventory display window 155, selection of the open link button 182 may be used to provide any additional information available for the selected data object.

[0080] A “thumbnail” display area 184 may be provided to display an image of a selected pixel object in a reduced size, or the frame from which it was selected, or another representational image or advertisement. The video playback application 38 may also support a chat room dialog box 186. The chat room dialog box 186 may be implemented using standard conventional software and provided with additional functionality. For example, images for an object listing within the inventory display area 155 may be dragged into the chat area dialog box 186. In response to such action, the video playback application 38 displays the clickable text space hyperlink in the chat dialog box 186. Clicking on the hyperlink functions transmits the thumbnail to the address generated.

Alternate Embodiment

[0081] An alternate embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 9-16. More particularly, this embodiment of the invention is a method and apparatus for associating the color of an object with an event. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough description of embodiments of the invention. It is apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known features have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention.

[0082] One or more embodiments of the present invention are directed to enhancing a user's ability to interact with a computer set-top box, interactive television set, or other processing device. According to embodiments of the present invention, the user provides input on some area of a display device, for instance by depressing a mouse button at a specified location. The invention then determines where the user has depressed the mouse button and what color value appears on the display device at the time the user has depressed the mouse button. Then, the invention initiates an event that corresponds to that color value.

Event Processing

[0083] In one or more embodiments, the invention takes a streaming or static media and associates an active, dynamic, or static object with an event by its given color. The event may be, for instance, the retrieval of a document at a specified URL in a web browser or the retrieval of other information in non-web browser implementations. Other implementations include, for instance, the viewing of media, via a television, DVD or other media player, set-top devices, web-TV, interactive TV, and video-games.

[0084] Take, for example, a web page implementing streaming video. In the example, a game show host is wearing a green shirt. If a user provides input to the screen by depressing a mouse with the cursor in a location where the green shirt is located, the invention links to a LIRL associated with the green shirt. Thus, the moving color may substitute for a conventional, static, text link. In another embodiment, the game show host with the green shirt may be in a television show. In this embodiment, providing input on the moving green shirt may initiate a different event, such as providing information about the shirt or the game show host.

[0085] One embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 9. At step 150, an action occurs. At step 152, the location of the action (a region of interest) is determined. Locating a region of interest is well known in the art.

[0086] One method to locate a region of interest is to obtain an ordered pair corresponding to the location of the cursor at the moment of the action. For instance, a computer screen may be represented as a two-dimensional graph wherein the axis of the graph resides in the lower left hand corner of the computer screen. Thus all ordered pairs will correspond to positive values of x,y pairs on the graph.

[0087] After defining the region of interest, the value associated with a color in the region of interest is determined at step 154. Thereafter, at step 156, an event associated with that color is initiated.

Color Characteristics

[0088] In one embodiment, the invention defines the color by its mathematical properties. For instance, one embodiment uses the RGB standard which separates the red, green, and blue properties of the color as numerical values. Another embodiment also uses the HSV characteristics of the color, which define hue, saturation, and value as components of color. HSV characteristics further define the properties of a color, for instance V represents an analog of the intensity of a color or how bright the color appears. Another embodiment of the present invention uses both RGB and HSV characteristics.

[0089] One embodiment defines color characteristics as shown in FIG. 10. At step 200, it is determined whether an action has occurred. If no action occurred, step 200 repeats until an action occurs. If the action has occurred, it is determined where the action has occurred at step 210.

[0090] The location is shown herein with respect to a single pixel, “pixel A”. At step 220, a red component of a color for pixel A is determined. Then, at step 230, a green component of the color for pixel A is determined. Next, at step 240, a blue component of the color for pixel A is determined. Thereafter, at step 250, the color characteristics are combined to form a color value for pixel A.

[0091] After step 250, it is determined whether any event is associated with the color value at step 255. If no event is associated with that color value, no event is initiated and the process repeats at step 200. If an event is associated with the color value, then at step 260 an event associated with the color value is initiated.

[0092] One embodiment defines color characteristics as shown in FIG. 11. At step 300, it is determined whether an action has occurred. If no action occurred, step 300 repeats until an action occurs. If the action has occurred, it is determined where the action has occurred at step 310. The location is shown herein with respect to a single pixel, “pixel B”. At step 320, a hue component of a color for pixel B is determined. Then, at step 330, a saturation component of the color for pixel B is determined. Next, at step 340, a value component of the color for pixel B is determined.

[0093] Thereafter, at step 350, the color characteristics are combined to form a color value for pixel B. After step 350, it is determined whether any event is associated with the color value at step 355. If no event is associated with that color value, no event is initiated and the process repeats at step 300. If an event is associated with the color value, then at step 360 an event associated with the color value is initiated.

[0094] One embodiment defines color characteristics as shown in FIG. 12. At step 400, it is determined whether an action has occurred. If no action occurred, step 400 repeats until an action occurs. If the action has occurred, it is determined where the action has occurred at step 410. The location is shown herein with respect to a single pixel, “pixel C”. At step 420, a hue component of a color for pixel C is determined. Then, at step 430, a saturation component of the color for pixel C is determined. Next, at step 440, a value component of the color for pixel C is determined. At step 450, a red component of a color for pixel C is determined. Then, at step 460, a green component of the color for pixel C is determined. Next, at step 470, a blue component of the color for pixel C is determined.

[0095] Thereafter, at step 480, the color characteristics are combined to form a color value for pixel B. After step 480, it is determined whether any event is associated with the color value at step 485. If no event is associated with that color value, no event is initiated and the process repeats at step 400. If an event is associated with the color value, then at step 490 an event associated with the color value is initiated.

Frame Buffer

[0096] In a computer or other comparable device, images are often used as a form of output. A common way that such devices handle images or streams of images (e.g., video) is by using a “frame buffer”. For offline pre-processing or for real-time processing using high speed computers, the RGB frame buffers reside in memory. Alternatively, a special high speed video board can be used to process an RGB frame buffer for real-time processing.

[0097] A video signal, for instance, comprises a series of still images shown sequentially where the series of images appears so quickly that a user perceives the series of pictures to be a continuous stream of motion. As the computer processes each image, data relating to the image is stored in the frame buffer. Such data includes, for instance, the color values associated with each pixel at each location on the screen.

[0098] As a new image is displayed, new data about the image is stored in the frame buffer. Depending on the size of the frame buffer, many sequential images may be stored there before it fills up and old image data must be overwritten.

[0099] One embodiment of the present invention takes advantage of the data already existing in the frame buffer, for instance to perform step 120 of FIG. 9. FIG. 15 shows an embodiment of the present invention where the frame buffer is utilized.

[0100] At step 700, an action occurs. At step 710, the location of the action (a region of interest) is determined. Next, at step 720, the invention access the frame buffer to obtain color values at the location of the action when it occurred. Then, it is determined whether any event is associated with the color value at step 730. If no event is associated with that color value, no event is initiated and the process repeats at step 700. If an event is associated with the color value, then at step 740 an event associated with the color value is initiated.

Events

[0101] As described above, one event is a link to another URL (i.e., to facilitate a transaction over the Internet). Thus, one event may comprise the retrieval of a web page from a server computer connected to the Internet.

[0102] In the context of streaming media, an event may be the retrieval of a text page. For instance, assume the user is watching a DVD program showing several of the great pyramids of Egypt. If the user causes an event to occur in a region of interest defined by a specific pyramid, then the event may comprise the retrieval of a text page telling the user exactly which pyramid this is, when it was built, the history associated with this particular pyramid, and any other pertinent information. Thus, the event would cause the DVD to move to a different data track (i.e., to pull up different information).

[0103] In the same great pyramid example, another event may comprise the retrieval of audio information, for instance a narrator providing information similar to that given in the text track in the above example. Furthermore, the event may comprise the retrieval of a new media stream, such as the close up of the pyramid, alternate angles showing different views of the same pyramid, or views from inside the pyramid, for example.

[0104] In one embodiment an event comprises the retrieval of a data track. A data track comprises information associated with the color acted upon. Assume for instance, that this embodiment of the present invention takes place using an interactive television set. While the interactive television set is operating, a game show host appears wearing a green shirt. Then assume, for instance, that a user caused an action to occur at the location of the green shirt. In this instance, the data track may be information about the shirt, the game show host, or any other relevant information.

[0105] Whether an event is associated with a color value may be determined in a plurality of ways. One such way is to use a table. An example of one embodiment of a table is shown in table 1. TABLE 1 Color Value Event 100 retrieve document at URL www.info.com/test 300 obtain data track at a specified location 200 initiate media stream at specified location 288 initiate audio track at specified location

[0106] The table may be arranged in a plurality of ways and may be accessed in methods well known to those skilled in the art, including hash tables, hash functions, pointers, indices, or any other suitable form of table lookup. In addition, different color values may initiate the same event. Alternatively, every color value on an output device may be associated with the same event.

[0107]FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of the present invention where a table is implemented. At step 500, an action occurs. At step 510, the location of the action (a region of interest) is determined. Then at step 520, the value associated with a color in the region of interest is determined. Next, a table is searched to locate the color value to obtain an event that is paired with the color value at step 530, Then, at step 535, it is determined whether the color value is in the table. If it is not, then that color value is not linked to an event and no event is initiated. In that case the process repeats at step 500. Otherwise, at step 540, the event is initiated.

Color Ranges

[0108] In another embodiment of the present invention regions of interest (i.e., those regions where a user has performed an action) are associated with events based on color ranges. A color range, for instance, includes those shades of blue that correspond to the body of a bluebird in a video stream. Realistic image and video streams will not have a uniform shade of blue at all areas of the bluebird's body since light and other factors will cause natural variations in the perceived color reflected from an object. In this embodiment, this reality is accounted for, which gives this embodiment specific application in dynamic and high-quality video streams.

[0109] Color ranges are defined by color characteristics. For instance, a color range may translate into values on an RGB or HSV scale, or could be combinations of both. Typically, in a computer system such values range from 0-255. Thus, the bluebird's body may be defined as a region of interest where the color range includes a B value on the RGB scale of 50-75, for instance.

[0110] Thus, whether the action occurred at an upper left or lower right portion of the bluebird's body, the same event is initiated, despite the potential that at these corners of the regions of interest, the color values differed. All that is required in this embodiment is that both differing color values fall within the defined color range.

[0111] In many images, the colors may be very similar, yet they may be aspects of different components of the image and associated with different events. In one embodiment, the ranges are defined with respect to a plurality of color characteristics including RGB and HSV.

[0112] For instance, a range may be defined where the R is selected to have a range of 50-80, the G is selected to have a range of 150-160, and the B is selected to have a range of 200-220. An example color is selected by the user where the example color has RGB characteristics of 60, 155, and 205 respectively. Another color on the screen that is associated with a different event may appear to be substantially identical to the example color but has RGB characteristics of 190, 100, 33. Since the ranges have been defined by a plurality of characteristics, however, such minute differences in color shading are accounted for by this embodiment of the present invention.

[0113] In one embodiment, the characteristics of the color are defined by R, G, B, H, S, V, and R-G, and G-B, where R-G and G-B have red and green and green and blue components respectively. In this embodiment, any three of these variables is sufficient to uniquely define all colors displayed on an output device or stored in a frame buffer. To determine whether the variables are within the color range for the purpose of determining whether an event will be associated with the area of interest, the following algorithm is used (shown in FIG. 16).

[0114] At step 800, it is determined whether an action has occurred. If no action occurred, step 800 repeats until an action occurs. If the action has occurred, it is determined where the action has occurred at step 810. Then at step 820, three variables are chosen from a list of possible color components, for instance, R, G, B, H, S, V, R-G, or G-B. For the chosen variables, histograms are produced at step 830.

[0115] A histogram is a graphical method for describing data. It is a presentation of quantitative data (i.e., color components) that have been summarized in a frequency distribution. The values of the quantitative variable are shown on the horizontal axis. A rectangle is drawn above each class such that the base of the rectangle is equal to the width of the class interval and its height is proportional to the number of data values in the class.

[0116] Using the histogram, the color ranges are determined at step 840, for instance by determining the variable peak on the histogram + or − three times its variance. After step 840, it is determined whether any event is associated with the color range at step 850. If no event is associated with that color range, no event is initiated and the process repeats at step 800. If an event is associated with the color range, then at step 860 an event associated with the color range is initiated.

Color Patterns

[0117] It is often beneficial to define a regions of interest that is not uniform in color. A region of interest, for instance, may be a plaid tablecloth. In this case, it is not adequate to use a single color value, nor a color range to define the region of interest. To account for this, one embodiment of the present invention uses color patterns to define the region of interest.

[0118] A color pattern comprises a representation of the colors in the region of interest, for instance a graphical representation, defined by a plot on an x,y axis. The varying colors in the region of interest create peaks and valleys in the color pattern, graph representation. By locating patterns of peaks and valleys in such a color pattern, multi-color patterns, such as the plaid tablecloth, are used to associate actions with events.

Edge Detection

[0119] One embodiment of the present invention uses an edge detection scheme to define the boundaries for the colors. The color component of an object is described by its pixels. An algorithm gives those pixels an “edge” which is not visible to the user, nor drawn on the screen, nor pre-processed prior to the user viewing the images formed by the pixels. For instance, an invisible wire frame is created to describe the shape of the given colored object to associate with the event. But the value of the pixels defines the wire frame rather than actually drawing a wire frame on the screen.

[0120] One embodiment of the present invention uses Quicktime, a software package available from Apple Computers™. In this embodiment, Quicktime is used to support the use of “sprites”. A sprite is a clickable element within a video stream. Using Quicktime, a sprite is modified to be defined by its color component. Thus, one or more embodiments of the present invention create the associations between objects and events dynamically, in that the data which creates the association is a property of the image itself (i.e., its color values). The present invention requires no alteration or pre-processing of the image to create the associations.

Embodiment of Computer Execution Environment (Hardware)

[0121] An embodiment of the invention may be implemented as computer software in the form of computer readable program code executed in a general purpose computing environment such as environment 600 illustrated in FIG. 14, or in the form of bytecode class files executable within a Java™ run time environment running in such an environment, or in the form of bytecodes running on a processor (or devices enabled to process bytecodes) existing in a distributed environment (e.g., one or more processors on a network). A keyboard 610 and mouse 611 are coupled to a system bus 618. The keyboard and mouse are for introducing user input to the computer system and communicating that user input to central processing unit (CPU) 613. Other suitable input devices may be used in addition to, or in place of, the mouse 611 and keyboard 610. I/O (input/output) unit 619 coupled to bidirectional system bus 618 represents such I/O elements as a printer, A/V (audio/video) I/O, etc.

[0122] Computer 601 may include a communication interface 620 coupled to bus 618. Communication interface 620 provides a two-way data communication coupling via a network link 621 to a local network 622. For example, if communication interface 620 is an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card or a modem, communication interface 620 provides a data communication connection to the corresponding type of telephone line, which comprises part of network link 621. If communication interface 620 is a local area network (LAN) card, communication interface 620 provides a data communication connection via network link 621 to a compatible LAN. Wireless links are also possible. In any such implementation, communication interface 620 sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals which carry digital data streams representing various types of information.

[0123] Network link 621 typically provides data communication through one or more networks to other data devices. For example, network link 621 may provide a connection through local network 622 to local server computer 623 or to data equipment operated by ISP 624. ISP 624 in turn provides data communication services through the world wide packet data communication network now commonly referred to as the “Internet” 625. Local network 622 and Internet 625 both use electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals which carry digital data streams. The signals through the various networks and the signals on network link 621 and through communication interface 620, which carry the digital data to and from computer 600, are exemplary forms of carrier waves transporting the information.

[0124] Processor 613 may reside wholly on client computer 601 or wholly on server 626 or processor 613 may have its computational power distributed between computer 601 and server 626. Server 626 symbolically is represented in FIG. 6 as one unit, but server 626 may also be distributed between multiple “tiers”. In one embodiment, server 626 comprises a middle and back tier where application logic executes in the middle tier and persistent data is obtained in the back tier. In the case where processor 613 resides wholly on server 626, the results of the computations performed by processor 613 are transmitted to computer 601 via Internet 625, Internet Service Provider (ISP) 624, local network 622 and communication interface 620. In this way, computer 601 is able to display the results of the computation to a user in the form of output.

[0125] Computer 601 includes a video memory 614, main memory 615 and mass storage 612, all coupled to bi-directional system bus 618 along with keyboard 610, mouse 611 and processor 613. As with processor 613, in various computing environments, main memory 615 and mass storage 612, may reside wholly on server 626 or computer 601, or they may be distributed between the two. Examples of systems where processor 613, main memory 615, and mass storage 612 are distributed between computer 601 and server 626 include the thin-client computing architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc., the palm pilot computing device and other personal digital assistants, Internet ready cellular phones and other Internet computing devices, and in platform independent computing environments, such as those which utilize the Java technologies also developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc.

[0126] The mass storage 612 may include both fixed and removable media, such as magnetic, optical or magnetic optical storage systems or any other available mass storage technology. Bus 618 may contain, for example, thirty-two address lines for addressing video memory 614 or main memory 615. The system bus 618 also includes, for example, a 32-bit data bus for transferring data between and among the components, such as processor 613, main memory 615, video memory 614 and mass storage 612. Alternatively, multiplex data/address lines may be used instead of separate data and address lines.

[0127] In one embodiment of the invention, the processor 613 is a microprocessor manufactured by Motorola, such as the 680X0 processor or a microprocessor manufactured by Intel, such as the 80X86, or Pentium processor, or a SPARC microprocessor from Sun Microsystems, Inc. However, any other suitable microprocessor or microcomputer may be utilized. Main memory 615 is comprised of dynamic random access memory (DRAM). Video memory 614 is a dual-ported video random access memory. One port of the video memory 614 is coupled to video amplifier 616. The video amplifier 616 is used to drive the cathode ray tube (CRT) raster monitor 617. Video amplifier 616 is well known in the art and may be implemented by any suitable apparatus. This circuitry converts pixel data stored in video memory 614 to a raster signal suitable for use by monitor 617. Monitor 617 is a type of monitor suitable for displaying graphic images.

[0128] Computer 601 may send messages and receive data, including program code, through the network(s), network link 621, and communication interface 620. In the Internet example, remote server computer 626 might transmit a requested code for an application program through Internet 625, ISP 624, local network 622 and communication interface 620. The received code may be executed by processor 613 as it is received, and/or stored in mass storage 612, or other non-volatile storage for later execution. In this manner, computer 600 may obtain application code in the form of a carrier wave. Alternatively, remote server computer 626 may execute applications using processor 613, and utilize mass storage 612, and/or video memory 615. The results of the execution at server 626 are then transmitted through Internet 625, ISP 624, local network 622 and communication interface 620. In this example, computer 601 performs only input and output functions.

[0129] Application code may be embodied in any form of computer program product. A computer program product comprises a medium configured to store or transport computer readable code, or in which computer readable code may be embedded. Some examples of computer program products are CD-ROM disks, ROM cards, floppy disks, magnetic tapes, computer hard drives, servers on a network, and carrier waves.

[0130] Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Thus, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described above. Exemplary Code for Reading Data into First Array numberOfLine = readFirstNumberOfFirstLine( ); startFrame = readNextNumber ( ); endFrame = readNextNumber ( ); trueFramePerSecond = readNextNumber ( ); numberOfMovieSegment = readFirstNumberOfSecondLine ( ); for (int i=0; i<numberOfMovieSegments; i++) {   firstArray [i*5] = readNextNumber ( );   firstArray [i*5+1] = readNextNumber ( );   firstArray [i*5+2] = readNextNumber ( );   firstArray [i*5+3] = readNextNumber ( );   firstArray [i*5+4] = readNextNumber ( );   numberOfClickableAreas =     calculateTheSumOfClickableAreas     (firstArray [i*5+3]); } Exemplary Code for Reading Data into Second Array for (int i=0; i<numberOfClickableAreas; i++) {   readLine ( );   secondArray [i*5] = readNextNumber ( );   secondArray [i*5+1] = readNextNumber ( );   secondArray [i*5+2] = readNextNumber ( );   secondArray [i*5+3] = readNextNumber ( );   secondArray [i*5+4] = readNextNumber ( ); } Exemplary Code for Returning a Link Index int getLinkIndex(int x, int y, in frameNumber) {  approximatedFrameNumber = frameNumber *  trueFramePerSecond / 12;  segmentNumber = getSegmentNumber (approximateFrameNumber);  numberOfClickableAreas = firstArray[segmentNumber*5 + 3];  segmentStart = firstArray[segmentNumber*5 + 4] - numberOfSegments − 3; // 3 is the offset needed due to extra lines  for (int i=0; i < numberOf ClickableAreas; i++) {   x0 = secondArray[ (segmentStart + i)*5];   y0 = secondArray[ (segmentStart + i)*5 + 1];   x2 = secondArray[ (segmentStart + i)*5 + 2];   xy2 = secondArray[ (segmentStart + i)*5 + 3];   if (x0 <= x && x <= x2 && y0 <= y && y <= y2) {    return secondArray [(segmentStart + i)*5 + 4];    }  }  return −1; } 

What is claimed and desired to be covered by a Letters Patent is as follows:
 1. An image processing for linking one or more pixel objects to selected data objects in a sequence of video frames, the image processing system comprising: a video capture system for capturing a frame of said sequence of video frames to be viewed defining a captured video frame; a user interface for enabling a user to select one or more pixel objects in said captured frame and a video linking system including a pixel object tracking system for automatically tracking selected pixel objects in any preceding and/or succeeding frames in said sequence of video frames defining selected pixel objects as a function of a color value of said selected pixel object, said video linking system generating one or more linked video files which identify the pixel objects by frame number and location within the file, providing one or more links to data for each pixel object.
 2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said data content has a predetermined playback rate and said video linking system may sample said video content at a sample rate of less than said predetermined playback rate.
 3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said sample rate may be three (3) frames per second.
 4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said video linking system is configured to identify segment breaks in said video content.
 5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein said segment breaks are determined by determining the median average pixel values for a series of frames and comparing changes in the pixel values relative to the median average and indicating a segment break when the change in pixel values represent at least a predetermined change relative to the median average.
 6. (Canceled)
 7. The image processing system as recited in claim 5, wherein said compensation system is configured to automatically compensate for changes in said color values as a function of breaks between segments.
 8. The image processing system as recited in claim 7, wherein a segment corresponds to one frame or video.
 9. The image processing system as recited in claim 8, wherein a segment corresponds to more than one frame or video.
 10. An image processing system for lining one or more pixel objects to selected data objects in a sequence of video frames, the image processing system comprising: a video and pixel object capture system for enabling a frame of said sequence of video frames to be viewed and one or more pixel objects in said frame to be selected and captured; and a video linking system for automatically tracking selected pixel objects in preceding and succeeding frames in said sequence of video frames, said video linking system generating one or more linked video files which identify the pixel objects by frame number and location within the file, providing one or more links to data for each pixel object, wherein said video linking system is configured to identify segment breaks in said video content. 